renting a car in italy: the 2025 complete guide

Looking to rent a car in Italy? While the car rental process is relatively similar no matter what city, state, or country you rent a vehicle in, each destination can have a few unique rules or things you need to know. In this case, its also important that you understand how people drive in different areas and what the road conditions will be like! This is your ultimate guide to renting a car in Italy in 2025, separated region-by-region, so dive right. From the legal driving age and manual vs. automatic rentals to how much these rentals are and more, by the time you're done reading this blog you'll be ready for the Italian roads!

THE BENEFITS & DRAWBACKS OF RENTING A CAR IN ITALY

Renting a car in Italy comes with a number of notable benefits, including:

While renting a car in Italy comes with countless great benefits, there are also some drawbacks we must discuss and I believe the best way to do that is comparing destination to destination. This is because I would NOT recommend renting a car in every destination. Below outlines popular destinations, whether or not you should rent a car there, and why:

Should I Rent a Car in Positano?

I would not recommend renting a car in Positano. This is because Positano is one of the most famous destinations on the Amalfi Coast and it sits on an incline with hills and steep steps all the way to the top. There is limited parking, narrow winding roads, and traffic restrictions in the town. Fortunately, since it is such a popular stop for tourists to visit there are buses and ferries that travel from top to (almost) bottom to make transportation convenient.

Should I Rent a Car in the Amalfi Coast?

The answer to this question ultimately depends on where you're staying and where you plan on traveling to. If you are staying somewhere like Positano or Amalfi the entire time then I would not recommend renting a car. If you are staying somewhere like Praiano, which is where my friends and I stayed, and you are planning on visiting Amalfi, Sorrento, Naples and more, then renting a car is a good option. Just pick it up in Rome on your way down to the coast!

Should I Rent a Car in Rome?

Rome is another popular tourist destination where there are many public transportations options available, especially to Roman landmarks like the Colosseum. However, I would personally also rent a vehicle in this city if you planned on traveling across the city a lot, especially earlier in the day or later in the evening. My friends and I opted to walk most of the time and we took Ubers whenever we were going home, but I think a car rental would've been more helpful. It also would've made it easier to leave Rome and take a day trip to other areas.

Should I Rent a Car in Florence?

I would not recommend renting a car in Florence. Even though Florence feels more like a flat, compact city, its another destination where tourists line the streets and everyone is traveling on foot. If you're going to Florence to see famous landmarks like the Duomo, don't rent a car. If you are staying in Florence and plan on doing day trips to Tuscany and other surrounding areas and you want to explore a little more, then I would say rent a car.

Should I Rent a Car in Tuscany?

YES! Renting a car is a great way to explore the Tuscan countryside and visit smaller towns and wineries that may not be easily accessible by public transportation. Without a car rental, you would likely need to find wine tours in order to visit different vineyards and you would have to be on the tour's schedule. With a car rental, you can take your time and enjoy the sun and Tuscany's rolling hills.

Should I Rent a Car in Venice?

Venice is actually considered a pedestrian-friendly city with no cars allowed in the historic center. Renting a car is not necessary and can be impractical, as the city is best explored on foot, by water taxi, or by vaporetto (water bus). It's also another destination many tourists have on their bucket list, meaning that it's usually packed with foot traffic and can be hard to maneuver in a car.

Should I Rent a Car in Sorrento?

Sorrento is a great place to begin exploring the Amalfi Coast and surrounding areas, and renting a car can provide flexibility. When my friend group and I traveled to Sorrento for a day trip, we had to wait for the bus to come get us and the bus line was absolutely HUGE. We had to wait for hours in the hot sun and I'll never forget standing in line thinking "I wish we rented a car to get around here and then could've explored more."  So if you plan on exploring Sorrento or you're staying there for multiple days, rent a car. Then you can get around Sorrento easily and even do day trips to areas like Naples with no problem.

Should I Rent a Car in Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre is another town like Positano that is located on a large incline with countless stairs. For this reason, Cinque Terre is best explored on foot or by train. The five villages are connected by hiking trails and a train line so you can easily get into and out of this beautiful area.

Should I Rent a Car in Naples?

While Naples has a comprehensive public transportation system, including buses and the metro, renting a car can provide flexibility for exploring the surrounding area. This means that if you are just visiting Naples for a day, stick to public transportation like we did. If you are staying in Naples a couple days and you want to explore both Naples and some surrounding areas then you should definitely rent a car. Just remember: because Naples is a large city you will likely experience traffic and have to deal with pedestrians, cyclists, and more.

WHAT'S THE LEGAL DRIVING AGE IN ITALY?

The legal driving age in Italy is 18 years old. However, Italy also has a law that states that you have to have held your license for at least one year before you can rent a car. If you're from the USA and got your license around 16 years or 17 years of age, then by the time you arrive in Italy at 18 you'll have had your license for the standard 1+ year time and can rent a car. Just remember that car rental companies might charge you an extra fee for being under 25 when renting a vehicle (which is a common practice in many other countries as well)!

Yes, you do need a driver's license to rent a car in Italy. Fortunately, you have three different options. You must either:

ARE RENTAL CARS IN ITALY AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL?

Most Italian rental cars are manual cars. There are automatic car rentals but you can expect them to be a little pricier and harder to come by. I like to think they are gaining more popularity since many tourists coming from other countries are used to automatic, but I'm not sure if its really true. I also personally didn't have much trouble finding an automatic at all. Therefore, my best advice here if you're like me and you don't know how to drive manual is to research using a good, reputable company like Discover Cars that compares the options and prices that multiple different rental companies offer. When I looked for a rental car to pick up in Rome and in Naples, I found options for both automatic cars and manual cars. You can also even filter it to just show you automatic cars!

The best car rental companies in Italy are the ones that provide quality vehicles at an affordable price. While there are a number of great companies out there like Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, and more, I find that the best thing to do when looking for a car rental company abroad is to find a tool that compares all different rental car companies and their prices. I personally use Discover Cars because I absolutely love how this company displays options from all the best rentals like the ones in the list above, and that they offer 24/7 multilingual customer service and no hidden fees. There's nothing I hate more than going to rent a car and finding out there are unexpected fees I have to pay, and I've never had that with Discover Cars! I always feel like I get a great deal since I can compare all the car brands and their prices in one convenient spot.

HOW MUCH IS A CAR RENTAL IN ITALY?

Car rentals can range from $30 a day to more than $100 a day. There are many factors that go into the cost of a car rental in Italy, but the factors that affect price the most are the time of year and the type of transmission/car that you choose. The most affordable rentals can be found during the offseason, which is from the end of October to early April and they are small, manual cars. The most expensive vehicles are larger cars with automatic transmissions that you're looking to rent during peak season, which is the end of May to early October, or luxury car rentals. If you're looking to compare car prices from a multitude of different car rental companies, visit Discover Cars and simply put in where you want to pick up the car and the dates. From there, you'll be able to filter how large you want the car to be, whether or not you need it to be automatic, and more.

DO I NEED RENTAL CAR INSURANCE?

I advise that you do get car rental insurance in Italy, especially considering that some areas have narrow, winding roads and that Italian drivers are known to be fast and dangerous. With rental insurance, you get that extra reassurance that even if something does go wrong, you won't be held liable.

If you are going to opt for car insurance, I have some good news for you-you might not have to actually PAY for the car rental insurance! If you have a credit card that covers car rental insurance, you won't need to purchase it through a rental company like Discover Cars. However, if you don't have a credit card, you will likely have to purchase the insurance yourself. Each rental company gives different coverage. At Discover Car, you can opt for theft protection, collision damage waiver, and/or full coverage.

WHICH CREDIT CARDS COVER RENTAL INSURANCE IN ITALY?

Many credit cards will cover car rental insurance but there are specific details for each one, and there are two types of coverage: primary coverage and secondary coverage. Primary coverage from your credit card for car rental insurance steps in before your personal insurance, covering the full cost of the loss or damage immediately, while secondary coverage only kicks in after your personal auto insurance, covering additional fees and indirect costs. To learn more about which popular credit cards offer what and their CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) coverage limits, consult the list below:

Now, you might also be wondering: what questions should I be asking my credit card issuer to know if I'm covered for sure? In order to make an informed decision on whether you need car rental insurance or its covered by your credit card, you'll want to either find or ask for answers to the following:

DO CAR RENTALS IN ITALY HAVE A GPS?

A lot of car rental companies in Italy do not have a GPS built into the car. Instead, you do have the option to inquire and rent a GPS while you rent the vehicle for an extra fee, usually for around the equivalent of $60, but it has been said that these GPS' can only take you so far in areas. Therefore, my best advice to you would be to spend the extra money through your phone for international use of the phone and be able to use that GPS. I personally have Verizon as my phone carrier so international fees are about $10 per day. I find paying for this is helpful so that I can use maps, text, and use my phone as I normally would so I think of this fee as "killing two birds with one stone". If you don't want to spend extra money or you have a different phone plan, you also have the option of simply downloading Google Maps routes while on wifi in your accommodation and using them offline, or of just the offline setting. Here is a tutorial on how to use it offline without downloading any maps prior that I've found helpful!

GENERAL TIPS FOR DRIVING A RENTAL CAR IN ITALY

Alright, as I said early, early on in this blog, each and every area that you rent a car in can be different for drivers depending on the amount of traffic, the way the locals drive, the size of cars, and the laws in that area. Here are some general tips I tell anyone who says they plan on renting a car and driving in Italy:

HOW TO PAY TOLLS IN ITALY WITH A RENTAL CAR

When you drive on the autostrada, which is Italy's network of toll highways, the first thing you're going to do is take a ticket from the machine at the toll booth. Put this ticket in a bag or pocket where it'll be safe during your whole ride, because you'll need it to exit the highway at the end. Then, when you are going to exit, make sure to pick the lane with the appropriate method you want to pay in. There is a lane for electronic payment methods like Telepass, and other lanes for cash or credit cards. Once you pay, keep the receipt. If you're having an issue paying or need help for any reason, there is a help button on the machine.

Learn More About What to expect in Italy

Renting a car in Italy is a great way to see as much of the countryside as possible on your own schedule. Whether you're looking to try wine from the top vineyards in Tuscany or you're exploring the beach towns in the Amalfi Coast, a rental car is the way to go. To learn more about Italy including things to do, reviews of popular tourist destinations, insider tips from someone who has been there, and more, scroll down and take a look at my other blogs! You can also subscribe by clicking the button below and get info about Italy sent right to your email.